Hair drying apparatus



Sept. 20, 1955 E. H. CARSON 2,718,067

HAIR DRYING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 27, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet .l

26 INVENTOR ELLEN H. CARSON BY W ATTORNEY Sept. 20, 1955 E. H. CARSON HAIR DRYING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1954 \L mm 0? 0m NY mv 5 mm N m0 TS NR WA C H N E L L E Y B N .2

ATTORNEY Sept. 20, 1955 H, CARSON 2,718,067

HAIR DRYING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 27, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FlG. H,

INVENTOR ELLEN H. CAR SON B {kW M ATTORNEY United States Patent HAIR DRYING APPARATUS Ellen H. Carson, Fayetteville, N. C.

Application September 27, 1954, Serial N 0. 458,335

6 Claims. (Cl. 34-62) My invention relates to hair dryers for use in beauty parlors or the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide in a hair dryer means to properly circulate hot air next to the head and hair, and to also circulate cool air exteriorly of the current of hot air, and discharge the cool air about the face and body of the user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hair dryer which is adjustable for circulating hot air about the head and hair, with or without the circulation of cool air about the body.

Another object of the invention is to provide hair drying apparatus which is simplified and extremely compact in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation and economical to construct and maintain.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be I.

apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hair dryer in accordance with the invention on a greatly reduced scale,

Figure 2 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section through the body portion or head of the dryer shown in Figure l, and turned to a horizontal position for the purpose of illustration.

Figure 3 is a forward end elevation of the dryer head,

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a similar section taken on line 55 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a similar section taken on line 66 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary rear end elevation of the dryer head shown in Figure 2,

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary rear side elevation of the upper portion of the dryer support and associated elements,

Figure 9 is a central vertical longitudinal section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 1010 of Figure 2, and,

Figure 11 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical circuits employed in the dryer.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates an inner main casing or shell which may be substantially elliptical in vertical longitudinal cross section, Figure 2, with its major axis extending longitudinally. The casing 10 is rigid and sturdy, and formed of material which is heat insulated, such as fibre, plastics material, or metal covered with insulating material. The casing 10 tapers toward its rear end 11 which is closed, and is provided at its larger open end With a rubber bead 12, or the like, to promote the comfort of the user. The opening 12 in the forward end of the casing 10, about which the bead 12 extends is preferably somewhat oblong or elliptical in shape, with its major CJI axis extending vertically, as shown in Figure 3. The casing 10 may be circular in transversecross section, as shown.

Arranged within the main casing 10 is an inner casing 13, secured to the casing 10 at its forward end and forming an airtight joint therewith. The casing 13 may be substantially parabolic and rigid, and is also formed of suitable heat insulating material, like the casing 10. The forward end of the casing 13 is open, as shown, and its rear end is closed. The main casing 10 and inner casing 13 form a motor chamber 14 between them.

Surrounding the main casing 10 is an outer casing or shell 15 which may be formed of sheet metal or other suitable material, and spaced from the casing 10 to provide a cool air circulating passage 16, leading rearwardly into a chamber 17 between the rear portions of the main and outer casings 10 and 15. The casing 15 may be circular in transverse cross section, so that the passage 16 is annular, but the outer casing 15 is elliptically curved longitudinally and like the casing 10, tapers toward its rear end. The outer casing 15 extends somewhat forwardly of the main casing 10, and has its forward end portion 13 slightly inclined inwardly, to deflect cool air toward the face or body of the user. A large opening 19 is formed in the forward end of the outer casing 15, as indicated. The outer casing 15 is rigidly secured to the main casing 10, in spaced concentric relation therewith by groups of circumferentially spaced braces 19, or the like, rigidly secured thereto. In order that the motor chamber 14 may be ventilated and prevented from overheating, I provide air vent tubes 20 connecting the casings 10 and 15, and serving to place the motor chamber 14 in communication with the outer atmosphere.

Arranged within the inner casing 13 is a cup-shaped shield or casing 21 of sheet metal or the like, spaced from the casings 13 and it as shown. The shield 21 forms with the casing 13, within which is bodily disposed an inner annular hot air circulating passage 22, opening forwardly through the forward end of the inner casing 13. The passage 22 leads rearwardly to a chamber 22' between the rear end of the shield 21 and the rear end of casing 13. The shield 21 is preferably generally parabolic and tapering rearwardly, and the rear end 23 of the shield 21 may be flattened, as shown. The rear end 23 and shield 21 has a large central opening 24, covered by a screen 25, soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the shield 21. The purpose of the screen 25 is to allow rearward or return passage of the hot air to the chamber 22', without allowing the hair on the head to be drawn into the chamber 22. The shield 21 is rigidly secured to the casing 13 by means of siutable braces 26, which support the shield inside of the casing 13.

The forward end portion 27 is directed or inclined inwardly to direct the hot air coming from the passing 22 in a rearward direction. Between the forward end of the shield 21 and the forward end portion 27 are air deflecting louvres or vanes 28, which are axially spaced apart with respect to the several casings and transversely curved, and inclined to scoop the hot air flowing from the passage 22 and direct it inwardly and rearwardly so that it can be drawn into the shield 21 by means to be described. While I have shown two of the louvres 28, it must be understood that any desired number of louvres may be used. The louvres 28 are rigidly secured in their proper positions by radial arms or brackets 29 having their outer ends rigidly secured to the main casing 10.

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A motor 30 of any well known or preferred type is arranged within the chamber 14 with its armature shaft 31 extending axially. Adapters 32 carried by the ends of the motor casing serve to rigidly secure the motor to the rear walls of the casings 10 and 13. The forward end portion of the armature shaft 31 projects into the chamber 22', as shown, and has a fan 33 rigidly secured thereto within the chamber 22'. The fan 33 is of the centrifugal type which throws air radially outwardly while at the same time drawing air axially rearwardly at its center. The fan 33 is arranged rearwardly of the screen 25, in spaced concentric relation therewith. Rotation of the fan 33 draws hot air rearwardly through the shield 21 andscreen 25 andthen throws the hot air radially outwardly for movement through the passage 22 and discharge about the head of the user. The louvres 28 and forward end portion 27 facilitate changing the direction of flow of the hot air from forwardly to rearwardly as it passes from the forward end of the passage 22.

The numeral 34 designates generally an electrical heater which is annular and surrounds the fan 33, within the passage 22, and spaced from the fan. The heater 34 comprises two resistance or heating coils 35 and 36, which are annular, and supported in concentrically spaced relation in any suitable manner, such as by mounting upon radial insulating arms 37 and 37', rigidly secured to the casing 13. The heating coils 35 and 36 may be secured to the arm 37 by binding posts, as shown. The coil 35 is for medium heat, while the coil 36 is used with the coil 35 for added heat, and preferably is capable of producting somewhat less heat than the coil 35 alone. While I show two heating coils, it should be understood that any preferred number may be used. The air driven radially outwardly by the fan 33 passes in contact with or close to the heating coils 35 and 36 and is heated thereby prior to entering the passage 22.

The outer casing 15 is provided at its rear end with a large central opening 38, for the entrance of cool air from the outside atmosphere into the chamber 17. A spider 39 is mounted rigidly upon the rear end of the casing 15 at the opening 38. This spider includes spaced radial arms 40 and a central hub or bearing 41, integral therewith, and slidably receiving a shaft 42, equipped at its rear end with a handle or knob 43, preferably freely rotatably mounted thereon. Rigidly secured to the forward end of the shaft 42 is a sleeve 44, slidably receiving the adjacent rear end of the armature shaft 31, and engaging rotatably within an opening 45 formed Within the rear end 11 of the casing 10. A centrifugal type fan 46 is rigidly mounted for rotation with the sleeve 44, and this fan is reversed with respect to the fan 33, in order to draw air axially forwardly at its center while throwing the air radially outwardly. The fan 46 is thus adapted to draw fresh cool air into the chamber 17, through the opening 38 and to throw the cool air radially outwardly and drive it forwardly within the annular passage 16. The rear end of the armature shaft 31 has a notch 47 formed therein to receive a tooth or lug 48 formed upon the forward end of the shaft 42. When the shaft 42 is moved axially forwardly, and turned slightly, if necessary, the lug 48 will enter the notch 47 locking the shafts 31 and 42 together for rotation in unison. The shaft 42 is biased forwardly by a spring 49 which surrounds it, between the rear end of the sleeve 44 and the bearing 41. The shaft 42 is further provided rearwardly of the spider 39 with a flange or collar 50, integral therewith, and engagable behind a radially slidable catch or detent 51, held in place by a screw 52 having slotted engagement with the catch 51. The catch 51 serves to lock the shaft 42 and associated elements in the retracted or rearward position with the lug 48 disengaged from the notch 47. It is thus seen that the fans 33 and 46 may rotate together, or the fan 33 may be rotated while the fan 46 is at rest. Since the knob 43 is rotatable upon the shaft 42, disengagement of the shafts 31 and 42 may be effected while the shafts are rotating without liability of injuring the operator grasping the knob.

In Figure 11 I have shown a wiring diagram illustrating the circuits for the operation of the motor 30 and heater 34. In this diagram, the numeral 53 designates a rotary element of a switch, electrically connected by a wire 54 with a source of current 55. From the source of current 55, a wire 56 leads to one terminal of the electrical motor 30, the opposite terminal of which is connected by a wire 57 to a first stationary contact 58. The rotary switch element 53 has a contact arm 59 rotatable with it, and adapted to sweep over and engage the stationary contact 58 which is the cold contact. The contact arm 59 is also engageable with a stationary medium heat contact 60, when the arm 59 is moved clockwise to the first broken line position in Figure 10. The arm 59 is also engageable simultaneously upon further clockwise movement with a pair of closely spaced hot contacts 61, and then with a pair of stationary alternate contacts 62, as shown in broken lines in Figure 10, representing the different positions of the movable contact 59.

When the contact 59 engages the cold contact 58, the circuit through the motor 30 will be closed, and the fans '33 and 46 may be rotated together, or the fan 33 rotated alone, depending upon the adjustment of the shaft 42. The heater 34 is not now operated, and cold air will be directed forwardly through the passages 16 and 22. This cold air from the passage 16 will be directed by the easing portion 18 about the neck and face portion of the customer, while the air passing from the passage 22 with the help of the louvres 23 and casing portion 27 will be circulated rearwardly through the shield 21 and about the hair and head of the customer which is arranged within the shield 21 during the use of the apparatus. The air will ultimately pass through the screen 25 and reenter the chamber 22, for further circulation forwardly in the passage 22. The screen 25 prevents the hair from being drawn with the air into the passage or chamber 22', during the drying operation with either hot or cold air.

The medium heat contact 60 is connected by a wire 63 with the wire 57, and by another wire 64 with one end of the medium heating coil or element 35, the opposite end of which is connected by a wire 65 to the wire 54 leading back to the source of current.

When the contact arm 59 engages the medium contact 60, a circuit will be closed for operating the motor 30 and for simultaneously operating the medium heating element or coil 35. With this arrangement, heated air may be forced through the passage 22 and then drawn rearwardly in the shiedd 21 and about the head of the customer for drying the hair, as previously described. The heated air will pass through the screen 25 and reenter the chamber 22 for further circulation about and through the hair of the customer, which hair is loosely arranged inside of the shield 21 during the use of the apparatus, and the louvres 28 and casing portion 27 functioning as previously explained for changing the direction of flow of the hot air from forwardly to rearwardly. The rearward suction action of the fan 33 draws the air which has been directed inwardly by the louvres 28 rearwardly through the shield 21 and about the head of the customer.

The hot contacts 61 are connected through wires 66 and 67 with the wire 57, and through wires 68 and 69 with the wire 64 and with a wire 70, respectively. The wire 70 is connected with one end of the auxiliary heating coil 36, the other end of which is connected by a Wire 71 with the Wire 54.

When the contact arm 59 bridges both contacts 61, circuits through the motor 30 and through both heating coils 35 and 36 are closed. With this arrangement, maximum heat will be imparted to the air within the passage 22, and cool air will still circulate through the passage 16 when the fan 46 is utilized. The operation of the dryer except for the degree of heat is the same as previously described, and the hair is dried with hot air while the face and body of the customer are cooled with cool air flowing from the passage 16.

The alternate contacts 62 are connected through wires 72 and 73 with the wire 57, and through additional Wires 74 and 75 with terminals 76 and 77 of a timer 78. The terminals 76 and 77 of the timer are respectively connected with terminals 79 and 80 thereof, which are in turn connected with wires 80 and 81, leading to and connected in series with the wires 64 and 70 leading to the heating elements 35 and 36.

When the contact arm 59 bridges the alternate contacts 62, the motor circuit and the circuit through each of the heating elements 35 and 36 will be closed and maximum heat for the air within the passage 22 will again be produced while one or both of the fans 33 and 46 are operating. In this instance, the current will flow through the heating coils 35 and 36 for a predetermined time only, depending upon adjustment of the timer 78, which may be set for any desired time such as three minutes, after which time it will automatically open the circuits through the coils 35 and 36.

The head of the user or customer, sitting in a suitable chair, will extend through the opening afforded by the bead 12 and louvres 28. The head and hair will project inside the shield or guard 21 and the head will be spaced somewhat from this shield or guard with the hair loosely arranged therein.

During normal use, the entire body portion or head of the apparatus including the several casings, are supported at the proper elevation and at a proper angle of inclination as generally shown in Figure l. The support for the dryer may comprise an upright tubular post 82 or the like having a suitable base 83 secured to its lower end. A block or head 84 is secured inside of the top end of the post 82 by a rivet 85 or the like. The head 84 has an enlarged portion or shoulder 86 which rests upon the top end of the post 82. A reduced fiat sided extension 87 is integrally secured to the top of the head 84, and arranged centrally thereof and projecting above the enlarged shoulder 86. The top surface of the shoulder 86 is preferably rounded or inclined near the opposite flat sides of the extension 87, as shown at 88. A pair of laterally spaced flat lugs or ears 89 are dependingly secured to the lower side of the dryer head, Figure 2, and the ears 89 project through a suitable opening formed in the outer casing 15, and have their inner ends rigidly anchored to the casing as shown at 90, for example. The ears 89 may be further rigidly secured to the outer casing in any suitable manner, as by soldering, welding or the like. The ears 89 are arranged near the axial or longitudinal center of the casing 15, as shown. The extension 87 is adapted to engage between the parallel ears 89, Figures 8 and 9, and the extension and ears are pivotally secured together by a rivet 91, pin or the like, received by suitable apertures provided in the extension 87 and in the ears 89, as at 92. The lower straight ends or edges 93 of the ears 89 may be spaced slightly from the curved shoulders 88 for limiting the pivotal or rocking engagement of the dryer head with respect to the support 82. The ends 93 of the ears 89 will engage the shoulders 88 to limit the forward and rearward swing of the dryer head.

A leaf spring 94 is rigidly secured to the rear side of the post 82, near its upper end as indicated at 95. The spring 94 has a curved top extension 96 which bears against the lower side of casing 15, just rearwardly of the post 82. The spring 94 is tensioned to normally urge the dryer head including the casing 15 to its forwardly tilted position, Figure 1. In such position, the bottom ends 92 of the ears 89 will engage the shoulders 88 to positively limit the forward tilting of the casing 15. This is the normal position of the dryer in use, when the customer seated in a suitable chair has her head tilted rearwardly and projecting into the forward open end of the dryer as defined by the vertically elongated head 12. The head of the customer may project well back into the cup shaped shield 21 during use, so that the heated air drawn rearwardly by the fan 33 may circulate through the hair. The operator may tilt the casing 15 rearwardly against the force of the spring 94, as indicated in Figure 9. This may be done while the patient is leaving or entering thev hair for example. The rearward swinging movement of the dryer head is likewise positively limited by contact of the ends 93 with the shoulders 83.

It .is to be understood that the form of the invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Hair drying apparatus comprising inner, outer and intermediate casings arranged in spaced interfitting relation, there being a cold air passage formed between the intermediate and outer casing and a motor chamber formed between the inner and intermediate casings, said outer casing having air inlet means communicating with said cold air passage, a motor arranged within said motor chamber and having its armature shaft projecting inside of the inner casing and into the space between the intermediate and outer casing, a pair of fans carried by said armature shaft and arranged respectively within the inner casing and the last-named space, means for disconnecting the fan in said last named space from said armature shaft during rotation of the latter, a cup shaped shield secured within the inner casing in spaced relation thereto and forming therewith a hot air passage, heating means for the air within said hot air passage, and means to change the direction of flow of the hot air flowing from said hot air passage.

2. Hair drying apparatus comprising an outer casing, an intermediate casing arranged inside of the outer casing and spaced therefrom to form a cold air passage, said outer casing having air inlet means opening into said cold air passage, an inner casing arranged inside of the intermediate casing and spaced therefrom to form a motor chamber, a cup shaped shield arranged inside of the inner casing and spaced therefrom to form a hot air passage, said shield and all of said casings being open at corresponding ends, air deflector means near the forward end of said hot air passage to direct the hot air 7 inwardly, a foraminous part for the rear end of said shield to permit the hot air to pass therethrough and return to the hot air passage, a motor within said motor chamber, a pair of fans within said cold and hot air passages and driven by the motor, and heating means within the hot air passage near one of said fans.

3. Hair drying apparatus comprising first and second pairs of casings arranged in generally concentric nested relation and having corresponding ends open, the first pair of casings providing between them a passage for cold air and the second pair of casings providing between them a hot air passage, air inlet means connected with said first pair of casings for allowing the passage of fresh air into said passage for cold air, the second pair of casings having their open ends terminating inwardly of the open ends of the first pair of casings, portions of the first pair of casings near their open ends being inwardly directed so that the cold air flowing from the cold air passage will be inwardly directed, louvre means arranged between the inwardly directed portions of the first pair of casings and the open ends of the second pair of casings and tending to reverse the direction of flow of the hot air flowing from the hot air passage, and fan means arranged within the cold and hot air passages to circulate the air therein.

4. Hair drying apparatus comprising a cuplike shield to loosely receive the head and having its forward end open and including a forarninous rear wall, a casing of insulating material surrounding said shield and spaced therefrom to form therewith a hot air passage and having its forward end open, a second casing of insulating material surrounding the first-named casing and shield and 7 having its forward end open and spaced from the firstnarned casing to form therewith a motor chamber, the forward end of the second casing extending forwardly of the first-named casing and shield and being inwardly directed and terminating substantially opposite the forwar end of. Said hot air passage, louvres arranged between the forward end of the hot air passage and the inwardly directed portion of the second casing and serving to scoop the air passing from the hot air passage and directed inwardly so that it may be sucked rearwardly through said foraminous rear wall of the shield, an outer casing surrounding said second casing in spaced relation to form therewith a cold air passage and having a forward end portion inwardly directed and arranged forwardly of said inwardly directed portion of the second casing, said outer casing having opening means near its rear end for the passage of fresh air into said cold air passage, a motor within said motor chamber, fans arranged within Said hot and cold air passages and connected with the motor and driven thereby, a heater arranged within the hot air passage to heat the air flowing therethrough, and means operable from the exterior of the outer casing for disconnecting the fan within the cold air passage from said motor.

. 5. A hair dryer comprising an outer generally elliptical casing having a forward open end and a rear wall provided with an air inlet opening, an intermediate casing of generally elliptical form arranged within the outer casing and spaced therefrom to form therewith an annular cold air passage, said intermediate casing having a forward open end and a rear wall provided with an opening, an inner cuplike casing disposed within the intermediate casing and having a forward open end terminating rearwardly of the forward end of the intermediate casing and secured thereto, the inner casing having a rear wall spaced a substantial distance from the rear wall of the intermediate casing and having an opening, a cuplike shield arranged within the inner casing and spaced relation thereto for formin a substantially annular hot air passage therewith, the shield having a forward open end and a rear wall which is at least in part foraminous, a motor arranged within said motor chamber and secured to the rear walls of said intermediate and inner casings and hav-. ing an armature shaft projecting through the openings in the rear walls of the intermediate and inner casings, a fan secured to said armature shaft between the rear walls of the inner casing and shield and opposite the foraminous part of said shield and adapted to draw air rearwardly therethrough and to throw the air radially outwardly with in thehot air passage, an electrical heating element arranged within the hot air passage and surrounding said fan, a spider mounted upon the rear wall of the outer casing adjacent to said opening of the rear wall of the outer casing, a shaft slidably mounted upon said spider and having a coupling part engageable with the armature shaft to turn therewith, a fan secured to said shaft to turn therewith and adapted to suck air into the cold air passage through the opening in the outer casing adjacent said spider and to throw the cold air radially outwardly in the cold air passage, a spring for urging said shaft into coupling engagement with the, armature shaft, and means to lock said shaft in a retracted position.

6. Hair drying apparatus comprising first and second pairs of casings arranged in substantially concentric nested relation and having corresponding ends open, said first pair of casings forming between them a substantially annular cold air passage, the second pair of casings forming between them a hot air passage, the second pair of casings having their open ends terminating a substantial distance inwardly of the open ends of the first pair of casings, means for directing the cold and hot air discharging from the cold and hot air passages radially inwardly at the open ends of said first and second pairs of casings, heating means mounted within said hot air passage, and means connected with the first and second pairs of casings for forcing the cold and hot air through Martin Feb. 19, 1935 Dwyer Feb. 3, 1942 

